Gregg Barsby is one of disc golf’s most colorful characters …
He also happens to be one of my favorite athletes.
In fact, when I give up the ghost, I’m not at all opposed to the term “Barsbarian” gracing the face of my headstone. After all, I am one. If you’re new to professional disc golf, a “Barsbarian” is the title (nay – honor) given to somebody who’s obsessed with all things Gregg Barsby …
Intrigued?
Let the conversion process begin:
1. Gregg Barsby runs everything
Barsby’s game flies in the face of conventional fandom.
For example, some of disc golf’s most marketable faces are its farthest throwers:
- Bomber No. 1 – Drew Gibson
- Bomber No. 2 – Simon Lizotte
- Bomber No. 3 – Garrett Gurthie
- Bomber No. 4 – Eagle McMahon
Barsby doesn’t throw far, though …
Instead, his legion of die-hard fans are drawn to him for his work with a KC Pro Aviar – NOT a Star Destroyer. In disc golf, “aggressive play” is usually synonymous with biting off more distance from the tee. In Barsby’s case, however, there’s not a putt the guy fears …
Circle one? Splash. Circle two? Chains? The moon? Touchdown.
For the stuff that actually lowers scores, he’s balls-to-the-wall.
2. Gregg Barsby isn’t an imposing figure
I referenced Barsby as an “athlete” at the beginning of this post …
He doesn’t look the part.
He’s short. He’s skinny, too. And to further accentuate the mousy-to-the-max image God’s given him, Barsby’s pulled a page from Dave Grohl’s book and rocked long hair for the entirety of his career. Circus-style sunglasses complete the setup – the more out-of-this-world, the better.
Paul McBeth has a clean-cut, professional image to maintain. As McBeast goes, the rest of the Pro Tour tends to follow. Mason Ford, Albert Tamm, Ben Callaway, Tristan Tanner, Jeremy Koling and Bradley Williams – they all follow suit with the “corporate America” look.
Barsby is more “trailer park” than “Fortune 500,” though …
This is intentional.
3. Gregg Barsby builds a bag like none other
This is the clincher …
Barsby’s bag ($$$) matches his game – NOT what’s trendy at the time.
For example, en route to his shocking takedown of the 2018 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships, do you know how many total shots he threw with a midrange?
ZERO.
His bag reflects that.
Unlike most Team Innova golfers, he doesn’t bag a Roc of any kind. Multiple Rhynos make the cut. In the midrange slot, he’ll usually rock a Star Croc or Coyote. But for most tournaments, he goes straight from the DX Rhyno to the army of Eagles around which he’s built his brand.
And while he’ll occasionally bust out a Star Boss or Destroyer off the tee, it’s randomly the Sirius Scorpius that lands the bulk of his distance duties. Think different; throw different.
CE plastic or bust, baby.
The truth about Barsby …
Gregg Barsby is good enough to win any event he enters – he’s not sneaking up on people. At the same time, though, he’s pedestrian enough with his play for you to forget he exists …
There’s something oddly cool about that.
Barsbarians expect nothing less from “The People’s Champ.”
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